Tune Req: The Galway Shawl

Subject: Anybody know
From:
Date: 20 Jun 98 - 06:26 PM

Hi folks. My first time posting.

I found the lyrics to the song "Galway Shawl" on this web site, but I cannot seem to find the sheet music anywhere. I would like to learn the song on the penny whistle.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Anybody know
From:
Date: 20 Jun 98 - 08:51 PM

Dia dhuit,

You can find the sheet music in the Soodlum Tune Books or any of the other small multi volume Irish tune books that have been published. If you have no luck there I can run up an ABC file from the music I have. That's of course if you have ABC programs to change it to staff, like ABC2WIN, a free demo program. and that's not an advert, it's just a good program

Sla/n

Benjamin Bodhra/nai/

Subject: Tune Add: THE GALWAY SHAWL
From: alison
Date: 20 Jun 98 - 08:59 PM

Hi,

Here you go. The music should be easily available though, it is in most Irish song books. Especially Soodlum's.

Slainte

Alison

MIDI file: GALWAYSH.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: THE GALWAY SHAWL
TimeSig: 6/4 24 8
Key: D
Tempo: 170 (352941 microsec/crotchet)
Start
2400 1 62 031 0478 0 62 031 0002 1 62 038 0958 0 62 038 0002 1 61 019 0478 0 61 019 0002 1 59 030 0478 0 59 030 0002 1 57 026 3358 0 57 026 0002 1 59 018 0238 0 59 018 0002 1 61 015 0238 0 61 015 0002 1 62 033 0958 0 62 033 0002 1 64 023 0478 0 64 023 0002 1 66 026 0478 0 66 026 0002 1 69 024 3358 0 69 024 0002 1 69 029 0478 0 69 029 0027 1 69 036 0877 1 71 028 0035 0 69 036 0443 0 71 028 0089 1 66 032 0931 1 64 019 0035 0 66 032 0443 0 64 019 0002 1 62 026 2398 0 62 026 0002 1 62 033 0238 0 62 033 0002 1 66 026 0238 0 66 026 0002 1 64 026 0958 0 64 026 0002 1 62 034 0478 0 62 034 0002 1 59 026 3838 0 59 026 0002 1 62 032 0478 0 62 032 0002 1 62 029 0958 0 62 029 0002 1 61 023 0459 1 59 023 0036 0 61 023 0413 0 59 023 0052 1 57 026 3358 0 57 026 0002 1 59 023 0238 0 59 023 0002 1 61 018 0238 0 61 018 0002 1 62 027 0958 0 62 027 0002 1 64 038 0478 0 64 038 0002 1 66 020 0478 0 66 020 0002 1 69 027 3358 0 69 027 0002 1 69 019 0478 0 69 019 0002 1 69 020 0958 0 69 020 0002 1 71 023 0478 0 71 023 0002 1 66 022 0958 0 66 022 0002 1 64 019 0478 0 64 019 0002 1 62 022 1918 0 62 022 0002 1 62 025 0478 0 62 025 0002 1 66 016 0478 0 66 016 0002 1 64 018 0958 0 64 018 0002 1 62 020 0478 0 62 020 0002 1 62 023 3838 0 62 023
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:The Galway Shawl
M:6/4
Q:1/4=170
K:D
D12|D4C2B,2A,4|-A,10B,C|D4E2F2A4|-A10A2|A15/4B9/4F4E2|
D10DF|E4D2B,6|-B,10D2|D4C2B,2A,4|-A,10B,C|
D4E2F2A4|-A10A2|A4B2F4E2|D8D2F2|E4D2D6|-D12|
||

Subject: RE: Anybody know
From: alison
Date: 20 Jun 98 - 09:06 PM

Hi,

when I transcribed this, ages ago.... I did it in 6/4 time, so I didn't have as many bars on the page. Obviously it's meant to be in 3/4..... feel free to add bar lines as appropriate.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Anybody know
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Jun 98 - 10:51 PM

Funny-- Last time I looked, we had not one but two tunes for this one in the DT database.

Subject: RE: Anybody know
From: Brían
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 10:51 AM

I am wondering if anyone knows anything about the composer and any history of this song. I know that THE FOGGY DEW was derived from THE MOORLOUGH SHORE and that THE BLACKBIRD and RODNEY'S GLORY are set dances. I assume the cailín was probably a dancer and the events of the song took place after the Easter Rising.

I sang this song at a church supper the other night to good response. Many of the Irish-Americans in my area trace their roots to Galway. I realised that I didn't know very much about the song other than I had secretly enjoyed it in spite of the fact it is usually obliterated by accorians and snare drums and angelic choirs crooning in the background.

I recall a memorable night standing in a chip shop in Riverstown, Co. Sligo hearing a shop full of men singing this song while their wives sat in the cars with their arms crossed and children leaning their heads on the car window frames on a hot summer night...

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know
From: Alice
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 11:09 AM

There are Irish songs titled Foggy Dew that pre-date the Easter Rising. There is a thread discussion on that topic if you search the forum.

Funny that last week in a performance of a radio show, one of the songs I sang was The Foggy Dew, the 1913 recorded version by John McCormack with the love song lyrics written by Milligan and the same tune as the rebel Foggy Dew ( discussion is in that other thread). A local rock band was also on the show, and when I went back to the green room, the lead in the rock band asked me if I knew The Galway Shawl. I said, yes, that's a great one to sing to other Irish musicians because it lists the tune titles. He said he had learned the Galway Shawl, but until that night when he heard me sing, he had never heard The Foggy Dew. So, then I wondered at the time myself, which Foggy Dew was meant in the song, could it even be this one, with the other tune?The Foggy Dew (A wan cloud was drawn...)

I am interested in knowing more about the history of the Galway Shawl, too.

Alice

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Foe
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 11:58 AM

I have two CDs with Margaret Barry singing the song on each. One is the Alan Lomax recording, I sang through the Fairs" and the other has her with the fiddler Michael Gorman. Beautiful song

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: breezy
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 12:43 PM

Hear it on Easter Sunday at the Well Parc , Trevone Bay near Padstow, where there will be a free folk night and all are welcome to join in .

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From:
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 10:07 PM

Ummm! I'm puzzled. How did we go from Galway Shawl to Foggy Dew? What's up? Are we having computer problems?

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,BOAB
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 03:14 AM

I believe the late great Hamish Henderson wrote "I'll Lay ye doon, Love" to the tune of Galway Shawl. If you should happen to be familiar with Hamish's song, I THINK that's your tune.... Boab

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 03:28 AM

Just checked the digitrad ---it's there, under "I'll Lay ye doon, Love", click to play. [Doesn't mention Hamish, though---am I wrong in my impression that he wrote the lyrics?]

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 07:41 AM

Henderson considered I'll Lay Ye Doon to be a descendant of Muldoon the Solid Man; Jeannie Robertson used to sing a fragmentary version, to which Enoch Kent added a couple of verses (presumably of his own making).  Jeannie herself changed her set over the years, adding two lines thought up by Hamish Henderson to complete a verse, and others such as Jimmy Hutchison (who first heard it sung by Kent), Owen Hand and (perhaps) Dominic Behan have written or re-written verses.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Alice
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:00 AM

George, the Foggy Dew is one of the titles mentioned in the lyrics of the Galway Shawl. Brían said The Galway Shawl had to be after the Easter Uprising because it mentions the Foggy Dew, and I replied that there are songs older than the Easter uprising that are called the Foggy Dew, including songs that have different melodies than the rebel Foggy Dew.

"I played the Blackbird, and the Stack O' Barley,
Rodney's Glory, and the Foggy Dew
And she sang each note, like an Irish linnet
While the tears stood in her lovely eyes of blue.
(from the Galway Shawl)

Alice

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:13 AM

Well, it's interesting to see how foggy things can get when different songs have the same title.

I had never thought how MULDOON THE SOLID MAN and THE GALWAY SHAWL were related before. I'd forgotten about THE STACK OF BARLEY,too.

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From:
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:33 AM

Ah! I didn't understand where that came into it. It just went, in looking quickly, in a totally different direction. I wasn't sure if the subsequent conversation was dealing with Galway Shawl or the Foggy Dew. That makes a heck of a lot more sense. Thanks for enlightenment.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:30 PM

In the context of meaning of words in songs, Jim Maggean once said that the word linnet in an Irish song usually made reference to Republican sympathies.
anyone else heard this? Given that tunes and songs were often highly political and banned at one stage.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From:
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 12:11 AM

The song looks nice. Now I have to download the MP3 to hear it.

While looking, I came across this page on the song, which specifically talks about the Foggy Dew bit. Have a look at this

Galway Shawl

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Mickey191
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 02:42 AM

My Dad used to sing Galway Shawl with this verse: I played the blackbird, the stack of barley, the old black rogue and the foggy dew. She sang each note like an Irish linnet, with the smile of Erin in her eyes of blue

About 5 years ago I heard these same words sung to a totally different tune. Actually, it was a nicer melody.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 05:20 AM

Mr. Red

Napoleon appears in a few songs as "The Green linnet". Can't remember why. No republican significance that I know of.

Regards

p.s. Of course, linnets aren't green.... the name is an old one for greenfinch, I think.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 01:44 PM

Well, even more questions being raised. The reel, THE FOGGY DEW is a fine tune indeed, but I wonder why she sang each note like an Irish Linnet? I know there is also a very political song known as THE BLACKBIRD, which is a Jacobite song. I guess that the references are poolitical.

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 03:20 PM

The Foggy Dew mp3 file I linked to (a wan cloud...) is a melody that is used as an instrumental tune. I've seen it in session tune books, and the source I found for lyrics is an old song book from 1931. Click here for a scan of the music. Home and Community song book, Foggy Dew Page.

Alice

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 05:10 PM

Brían, I guess that the references are political.

Why? Because it's Irish? I've always thought it meant she sang beautifully, like a songbird. Why does there need to be more to it than that?

Noreen

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Mickey191
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 07:13 PM

That's always been my take on it Noreen.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 07:39 PM

Point well taken Noreen. I sing the song because it is a beautiful song, not because it is political. I made the last post in a flurry of contractors and electricians running around my house, working and hollering. I am not aiming to make this a political discussion, rather a discussion about the origin of the song, THE GALWAY SHAWL, of which there is not a lot of information about. The references to the songs/tunes seem very ambiguous and may have been made that way deliberately. They might, however lead to clues about the song.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 08:48 PM

I think there are probably many more songs in the Irish tradition (and in others) which are apolitical- dealing with the human condition- than are Political, having reference to tyranny or rebellion.

The list of tunes in the Galway Shawl I have always taken to be just that- a collection of tunes which would have been played on such an occasion.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 09:54 PM

I agree, Noreen. It's a touching song about love and life, music just being a part of it, family and home another - "and soon her mother had the kettle singin', but all I could think of was that Galway shawl". I've never saw a political connection in it.

Alice

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 11:07 PM

"I've never saw...?" Ooops, I meant - I never saw. Too tired to type. Good night everyone.

Alice

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 07:45 AM

A good song has first of all, a good melody, then interesting words, then a meaning. If there was no meaning to the song other than it being a nice story why sing it at all? I believe the author or person(s) handing this song down made the song ambiguous deliberately, not with any seditious intent, but to make the song more complex, which it is. Like any really good song, the listener is free to enjoy it at one level, or look into deeper or alternative readings as they wish. For instance, THE STACK OF BARLEY is a beautiful tune to play , listen to or dance to. It could be heard at any céilidh or hooley at the time the song was written, as it is now. However, a friend pointed out to me that when dancing the STACK OF BARLEY, the couples dancing around the house with their alternating hop-step look like a stack of barley as well. One doesn't need to know that to enjoy dancing it, but it does make it more interesting. I would venture to say that every detail in the song is significant right down to hitting the road to Donegal, which is about as far as you can get from Oranmore and still be in Ireland.

I have some friends that I think I will see tonight who are from Galway. I'll see if they can shed some light on this.

I've been looking on the internet for any information on this song. It seems to be listed as Traditional or Anonymous, which means nothing. One site insisted that THE FOGGY DEW was the fiddle tune and had nothing to do with any song by the same name. In spite of the lyrics being fairly consistent, no one has ventured to date the song or name its author.

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 12:23 PM

I spoke with several people last night about this song. My friend Mike grew up near Athenry, not far from Oranmore. He says he recalls the song being very popular at dances or gatherings as far back as he can remember. He says he heard it first as a song in the late 1930's or early '40's, although his father played it as a tune on the violin and supposed it was at least 100 years old. He said the tunes mentioned were dance tunes, not songs. He never thought of it having any political significance.

I then spoke with my Irish Language teacher whose family is from Carna. She laughed at the suggestion that there was no political references in the song. She said that the melody that the GALWAY SHAWL are new words sung to an older melody and not to try to date it by the fact Mike's dad played it 100 years ago.

I then spoke to Máirín, Mary's mother, who was well acquainted with the song and she sang it right off. I asked her what she thought about the tunes. She said that THE BLACKBIRD, THE STACK OF BARLEY and RODNEY'S GLORY are dance tunes. She said that she thought THO FOGGY DEW was a song. She couldn't remeber the words right off, but the melody was THE STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN, otherwise known as KINGSFOLD(which has been used for probably 100's of songs).

Máirín gave a couple of interesting variations:

I met a cailín who was tall and handsome instead of I met a cailín she was young and handsome

...And play to please him a tune or two for And play to please him The Foggy Dew

...And Éireann's tears in her eyes of blue(Something similar to what Mickey's dad sang) instead of The tears they filled her eyes of blue.

I asked Máiín and Mary what exactly a Galway Shawl was, since I couldn't find anything but stuff being pushed at tourists regarding this. They said that there were 4 types of shawls worn in Galway. Three of them were black, white and grey. Máirín says there were candles(?) on them, or a cable like pattern and they were very heavy. One would never wer them indoors. They said they would bing a picture to me. I'd love to post it on Mudcat, but I don't know that kind of html. Max would probably disapprove as it would slow down most people's computers.

I'm taking time to do this, not in any attempt to prove I'm right. Evidence seems to point to this song being older than the common As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I... I originally thought. I just would like to know more about this song, how old it is its author if possible.

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Noreen
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 09:08 PM

Evidence seems to point to this song being older...

What evidence, Brían? Sorry, but the only relevant bit seems to be your Irish language teacher saying ...that the GALWAY SHAWL are new words sung to an older melody...

I've got no axe to grind here, and would like to know more about the song's history, too, but don't see anything new here.

For what it's worth, I'd always taken the titles in the song to refer to tunes rather than songs, and the words she sang each note... to mean that she sang along with the tunes, rather than sang them as songs.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 09:21 PM

OOOOOOH! So if we are looking for deeeep poitical significance, how come the reference to Rodney's Glory. An English navy admiral, wasn't he? Sounds a bit crypto-Unionist to me.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 05:51 AM

Singing a dance tune is usually called lilting or diddling, although I never come to tears singing a dance tune, except, maybe THE BLACK ROGUE, and then only tears of laughter.

I got some information from a recording of Cathal McConnell and Len Graham For the Sake of Old Decency:

THE BLACKBIRD is a dance tune which can be played as a set dance(which I will talk about later), a slow air, a hornpipe and a reel. There's also a song to it.

This is more or less verbatim what Len Graham says about the song THE BLACKBIRD before he sings it:

"THE BLACKBIRD doesn't really refer to a feathered species, but it's more to a political, I should say character from history and I'm sure you've all heard of Bonny Prince Charlie. Well, the father of Bonny Prince Charlie who was known as the Young Pretender was known as the Old Pretender, so the Blackbird was an allegory for the Old Pretender and this cause was, of course a very popular cause in Scotland and in Ireland. This is an Irish song..."

I won't include the words to this lovely song here, but the melody is the same as the hornpipe and the slow air that Cathal plays.

THE BLACKBIRD and RODNEY'S GLORY are both set dances. I don't have any information about RODNEY'S GLORY, but I am glad to look it up, though it may take some time. I got the following information from Breandán Breathnach's Folk Music and Dances of Ireland:

"Set or long dances are solo dances, usually with a jig or hornpipe rhythm. They deviate generally from the usual form of the dance tune in having one part, ususally the second, longer than the others, and sometimes the parts maybe in different times. Each tune has its own particular dance which, following the usual Irish custom, has the same title. ..they required an expert to perform them properly, and this skill was exibited much better on the kitchen table than it would have been on the clay floor of the house.

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 09:06 AM

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 09:11 AM

It is not necessarily the case that Rodney's Glory refers to the English admiral. It is just as likely to refer to the same soldier who is commemorated in Colonel Rodney, whoever he might have been.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 09:34 AM

There seems little doubt that Admiral Rodney is the man in question. The following is quoted from Andrew Kuntz's The Fiddler's Companion, which also gives much more background; a direct link is unfeasible as the search engine there returns no results for Rodney's Glory, so one must instead search for Rodney:

"The title "Rodney's Glory," explains O'Sullivan (1983), was derived from verses set to the tune by the poet Eoghain Rua Ó Súilleabháin in 1782, commemorating a naval battle fought that year in which George Rodney (d. 1792), then vice-admiral of Great Britain, encountered the French fleet under Admiral Comte De Grasse... Ó Súilleabháin served on The Formidable, a ship which saw some of the severest fighting and thus "Rodney's Glory" is a first-hand account."

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 09:49 AM

Thanks for the info Malcolm. That is interesting. Does anyone know who Colonel Rodney was, or Colonel McBain for that matter?

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:56 AM

Thanks, Malcolm.

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Brían
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 11:05 PM

Here is some of the poem RODNEY'S GLORY:

Patrick Walsh, MA Diss., UUC 1993, p.72]; cites Rodney's Glory, 'Now may prosperity attend/Brave Rodbey and his Irishmen/And may he never want a friend/While he shall reign commander;/Success to our Irish officers,/Seamen bold and jolly tars/Who like darling sons of Mars/Take delight in the fight/And vindicate bold Erin's right/And die for Erin's glory.' The poet was brought to him and Rodney offered him promotion. However the Irishman requested only to be set free from service. An Irish officer, a Kerryman named McCarthy, answered for the admiral – "Anything but that". Disgusted, the poet turned away and muttered under his breath, "Imireaochaimid beart eigin eile oraibh." McCarthy replied, "I'll take care, Sullivan, you will not." [&c.] (Daniel Corkery, in The Hidden Ireland, 1957 edn., pp.199.)

From THIS SITE

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Brían
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 11:12 PM

O'Sullivan appears to be saying,"We will try another game on you".

Brían(Wishing Annraoi were here to correct his Gaeilge)

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 11:19 PM

I miss Annroi too, Brian.........

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Brían
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 03:28 PM

I was talking to my friend Tom the piper who is a well-known fixture in Portland ME about RODNEY'S GLORY and THE BLACKBIRD. It was he who toldme that O'Sullivan wrote the poem RODNEY'S GLORY as an attempt to get an early release from the British navy and he was absoluelt right. He also says that THE BLACKBIRD set dance tune was composed by a Mrs. McGarvey of Co. Clare to the tune of the song of the same name. It was in the repetoire of Willie Clancy. The poem RODNEY'S GLORY fits to the tune of the same name

Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 04:35 PM

Some notes on Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháin (Eoghan an Bheoil Bhínn) 1748-84

Known in English as Owen Roe O'Sullivan, or Owen of the Sweet Mouth, he was once one of the most popular and widely known of Irish poets for his eloquence, and for his rakish life.Stories about him were once widespread throughout Munster; celebrating his womanising, his drinking exploits, and his quick-wittedness. It was said of him that he had so many sons by different women "that if he threw a copper over a fence it would, like as not, fall on the head of one of his own [children]."

A Father Dineen collected his poetry from various sources, including oral tradition. But none of his poems/songs appear to be still sung, as the very eloquence which once preserved them in the menory of the people is now thought to be too grandiose, and too full of obscure references to mythology and history.

Rodney's Glory, which was written on the spur of the moment to celebrate Admiral Rodney's victory over the French fleet in 1782, is about the only song that Ó Súilleabháin wrote in English. Daniel Corkery quotes it in full in his book The Hidden Ireland [if anybody really wants the whole poem I'll post it to them, but it is both long and tedious - serving a simple purpose i.e.-to get Eoghan out of the Royal Navy].

If anybody wants more info from Hidden Ireland please request here.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,Brían
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 08:52 PM

Thanks, GUEST. I meant to say that THE BLACKBIRD hornpipe was composed by a Mrs Galvin a fiddler of Co. Clare(My error, not my friend who, apparently has the mind like a steel trap which I have not).



I am merely adding some information about references in the song THE GALWAY SHAWL that other people might find interesting.



Brían

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: belfast
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 12:52 PM

Once I was tempted to write a song which began

"There's red sails in the sunset
And well do I recall
When every Galway hooker
Wore a Galway shawl".

Fortunately my friends convinced me not to perservere.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 02:34 PM

Aaaah yes!! belfast, was that the version that included the infamous lines?-



And all she wore was a Galway shawl...

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Gurney
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 04:53 AM

One of my favourite singers, Sean Cannon, from Galway, I believe, sang/sings 'The Galway Shawl' to the tune usually used for "The Old Triangle.' I've heard other tunes used too, but they didn't register with me. Wassail.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: Brían
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 06:58 AM

*BOING* What a revelation Gurney! It's the same melody. It's also the same one for MULDOON THE SOLID MAN.

Brían
(Really digging these automatic line breaks)

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: belfast
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 10:22 AM

I have sat at a bar listening to Maggie Barry singing "The Galway Shawl" and in another pub I have heard Luke Kelly belting out "The Oul' Triangle".   I have heard these songs about a thousand times each. I've even been known to sing them. Not once did it occur to me that they have the same tune. I gather from the reactions of Brían above that I am not the only one. You live and, sometimes, you learn.

Subject: RE: Anybody know 'Galway Shawl'?
From: GUEST,folkiedave
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 10:35 AM

Just one short comment to an earlier query in this thread about Napoleon and "The Green Linnet".

Joe Heaney who sang also Galway Shawl used to introduce "Green Linnet" by saying that the Irish had so many songs about Napoleon because they were looking for - and saw Napoleon- as a liberator. And then with a great flourish he said - "And they still are looking for a liberator. (This was in the 1960's of course.

Dave